Using Pipe/Cigar Smoking to quit Snus or cold turkey?

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fishmansf

Can't Leave
Oct 29, 2022
447
1,473
PNW
You all might remember a previous post I had about snus usage. Frankly, I never got any sort of nic delivery from pipes or cigars and subsequently got completely hooked on snus. I can't even picture my life without it anymore, I use it when working from home when relaxing, when hiking, etc. I am also a major hypochondriac and out of fear of oral cancer when coupled with my pipe and cigar smoking (which is already an unhealthy habit), I want to quit snus. As much as I enjoy pipe/cigar smoking it gives me enough cancer anxiety as is (something I am willing to live with for love of the hobby) and coupled with snus usage, I have yet another reason to quit. I am at a loss on how to quit as I have tried three times already and failed. My question for you all is, should I use pipes/cigars as a means to get a "little" nic in my system to gradually ease out of the nic addiction similar to the way a nic patch would be used or should I go cold turkey on snus, pipes and cigars for three or four months while I try to break my addiction. Thanks all!
 

fishmansf

Can't Leave
Oct 29, 2022
447
1,473
PNW
I'd only suggest you choose a method that suits your personality, one you can handle. But asking a bunch of smokers how to quit? I suggest asking former smokers you know.
I most certainly do not plan on quitting pipe and cigar smoking, unless I meet some sort of cancer from my pipe smoking face to face, even in which case, I may not give it up. Just trying to see if anyone has suggestions about quitting snus.
 
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warren

Lifer
Sep 13, 2013
12,349
18,533
Foothills of the Chugach Range, AK
Sorry! I didn't parse your post well enough and jumped to a worthless conclusion.

Having done so belatedly, nicotine level, for me is the reason I smoke. So, simply smoke more bowls and sticks to keep the level where you want it. Seems simple enough. When my cigarettes were no longer available I never skipped a beat. Wasn't a problem. More bowls or more cigars. I also chew when I am somewhere smoking is prohibited. So, more of whatever you like should appeal to your addiction. Good luck!
 

Coreios

Lifer
Sep 23, 2022
1,637
2,722
42
United States Of America
If you need a nicotine hit smoke Kentucky Fire cured pipe tobaccos. Some pack a punch. If its not enough buy blending Ky. Fire and blend a small amount with something like a Virginia until you figure out how much you need. I'm an extremely heavy chain smoker and I warn you don't smoke the blending Ky Fire straight. I made it half through a bowl and got hit with the nic sweats.


I know you said a little nic hit. I said a lot so you don't crave the snus then just start adding less and less Ky. Fire.
 
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jediofthecode

Lurker
Jan 4, 2023
37
65
France
I also use Snus and have quit before and stayed off of it for about 6 months before going back. Its tough but what I reccomend doing before quitting, or even before switching to pipes/cigars as a nicotine replacement is to gradually reduce the amount of snus you use per day. Start off limiting yourself to 8/day, then 6, then 4. If you go straight from SNUSing nonstop to a pipe you'll be hittin that pipe all day. You get quite a bit less nicotine from smoking a pipe than you do from snus so it's tough.

The last time I quit snus I did it during a week off from work and just quit cold turkey, it was rough but it's doable.
 

HawkeyeLinus

Lifer
Oct 16, 2020
5,857
42,243
Iowa
Seriously, as often as you post about all sorts of apparently real health and other anxieties related to that which we don’t discuss and pipes, you should quit altogether. No judgments, just seems to be the solution.
 

captpat

Lifer
Dec 16, 2014
2,388
12,411
North Carolina
First, let me offer encouragement for your eventual success in quitting snus. I'd consult a health professional about patches and gums instead of substituting nicotine from one tobacco source to another, there are other therapies (e.g., hypnosis) that might be worth looking into as well. I don't typically smoke pipe blends that pack a big dose of vitamin N which I believe contributes to my ability to some days smoke 4 bowls and others none. Hard for me to imagine how many bowls/cigars one would need to make for snus. IMO the key will be weaning oneself off of nicotine.
 
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LeafErikson

Lifer
Dec 7, 2021
2,274
20,021
Oregon
The nicotine delivery from snus or cigarettes is much more instant than a pipe or a cigar (unless you’re inhaling). They might not be a direct replacement. The above post about weaning off is probably your best bet before making the full switch.
 

seaweed

Might Stick Around
Aug 2, 2023
71
164
Maine
Switch to zyn and then the lowest patch while smoking pipe. You’ll have to quit for years before you truly break a nic habit ( speaking from experience - I had a year under my belt with no snus…smoked a cigar and it came back full force very quickly). Reduce your body’s dependence on a higher level of nic, until just pipes can satisfy it. You’ll likely always want to smoke every day, probably at least 2-3 times a day to get your fix. After nic has you hard, you can’t go to being one of these once a week smokers unless you give it up for a long time, and maybe not even then.

There’s bound to be people who disagree and will love to tell me how ironclad their willpower is, so let me just say this is all my experience. I also had a booze issue for years, quit, and can now drink on occasion with no issue, so I know what other addictions feel like. Nic is next level.